Gas and liquid contact apparatus



1963 J. H. PARIS 3,101,383

GAS AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS Filed Jan. 14, 1960 FIG. 3

FlG.4

INVENTOR.

JAMES H. PARIS BY ATTORNEY.

3,101,383 GAS AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS .lames H. Paris, ltirkville, N.Y., assignor to Carrier Corporation, Syracuse, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Jan. 14, 1960, Ser. No. 2,517 4 Claims. (Cl. 261-44) t set rugated and plain sheets attached at their points of contact to provide -a plurality of adjacent parallel cells of relatively small cross-sectional areas between the ilat and undulating folds of the sheets so that liquid can bridge the walls of the cells by surface tension. The bottom of the packing is serrated to break the bridging of liquid The undulating folds of the corrugated sheets provide the spacing of the partition walls of each cell, and the edge portions of the assembled sheets provide a large area through which liquid enters and leaves the packing. The sheets are preferably composed of paper possessing qualities of high moisture absorbency and a large degree of wet strength. The moisture absorbency increases the cffectiveness of the packing in heat transfer.

The rotary spray-er for distributing water over the packing includes a plurality of arms with spaced openings therein. The sprayer subdividcs the stream of. supply water into droplets which are sprayed over the packing. The droplets discharged from the openings contact the top of the packing and flow downwardly thercthrough by gravity, however, many of the smaller droplets discharged from the openings may be caught up in the air stream and discharged from the top of the cooling tower. To remove the smaller droplets suspended in the air stream before it leaves the tower, eliminator plates are often provided in the cooling tower over the rotary sprayer.

The distribution of water over the top surface of the packing will vary with different flow rates, which are determined by the design of the system with which the cooling .tower is employed. A mechanical refrigerating system requires more cooled water than an absorption refrigerating system. Under low flow rates the distributor may rotate at a speed adequate to sutiiciently and properly wet the surface of the packing to efficiently cool the water flowing therethrough, however, under full flow conditions, the thrust of the water issuing from the openings in the distributor will be large and the distributor may rotate too rapidly and flood liquid on the surface of the packing. Water will drain back to the sump in the bottom of the cooling tower without being cooled, thus diminishing the capacity of the cooling tower.

A primary object of this invention is to provide gas and liquid contact apparatus in which these disadvantages or defects in prior constructions are obviated.

An object of this invention is to provide gas and liquid contact apparatus including an improved rotary liquid distributor having a slot therein to distribute liquid uniformly over the top surface of the packing.

Another object of this invention is to provide gas and liquid contact apparatus including an improved rotary liquid distributor having a baflle thereon to minimize loss of the splashed liquid in the air stream.

Still another object of this invention is to provide gas and liquid contact apparatus having an improved rotary liquid distributor capable of being adjusted to vary the speed of rotation thereof in relation to the liquid fiow rate through the distributor.

This invention relates to a gas and liquid contact apparatus and includes in combination, a casing, a packing in said casing comprised of a series of closely spaced Wall members defining cells open at the top and bottom, the cross-sectional areas of said cells being so small that liquid can bridge the walls of the cell by surface tension, said packing including means for breaking the bridging of liquid, means for passing a gas stream through said packing, and. means for distributing a liquid over said packing comprising a liquid distributing tube rotatably mounted above said packing, said tube having an elongated slot therein, a portion of said slot directing liquid downwardly with respect to the tube, and a portion of the slot directing the liquid at an angle with respect to a vertical plane through the tube, the reactive force of liquid discharging from the latter portion causing rota tion of said tube, and battle means on said tube to redirect splashing liquid onto the top surface of said packing.

The attached drawings, in which like reference numerals denote like parts throughout the several views, disclose a preferred embodiment of the invention in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a cooling tower embodying the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a bottom view of the improved rotary sprayer taken along line li-II of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a transverse sectional view of the improved rotary sprayer taken along line III-III of FIG- URE 2; and

FlGURE 4 is a transverse sectional view of the improved rotary sprayer taken along line 1VIV of PEG- URE 2.

Referring to the drawings, there is disclosed in FIG- URE l a cooling tower embodying the present invention. Cooling tower 4 includes a casing 5 carried on support members 6. Along the lower portion of the casing and extending substantially around the entire casing are suitable louvers 7 which permit air to pass into the lower portion of the casing. In the bottom of the casing is located a suitable sump 8 wherein liquid may be collected. The liquid level in the sump is maintained at a desired height by means of a supply line 9 in which is connected a suitable valve ill operated by float ill in the sump. Packing 12, preferably of the type disclosed in Munters Patent No. 2,809,818, is mounted above sump 8 and louvers 7, and is supported by angle irons 13 which are secured to the inside of easing 5.

Above the 'packing is mounted my novel waiter distributor M. In the preferred embodiment this water distributor comprises a rectangular tube 15 closed at the ends and having a hub 16 secured centrally to the bottom of said tube. Hub 16 is rotatably secured to riser pipe 1% by hearing and seal assembly li7. Elongated slots 19 and 20 are formed in the bottom of said tube on each side of hub to. The bottom walls of the tube adjacent each slot are preferably turned downwardly to form lips or flanges 21 and 22. However, if desired, the lips may by formed separately and their suitably affixed to the bottom of tube 15' adjacent the slot. Lips 2i and 22 extend approximately one-third the length of each slot. The water discharged from between each pair of lips Zll and 22 is dischar ed downwardly. Adjacent the lips 21 and 22 are lips 23 and 24 which are generally parallel one to the other and extend from the bottom at an angle of from lS to 75 with respect to a vertical plane pass- 5111; through the slot. The reactive force of the water discharged from the angled portion of the slot between each pair of lips 23 and 2a causes tube 15 to rotate.

The water flow rate may vary from about one to four gallons per minute per square foot of top surface of packing 12 when the cooling tower is employed with an 3 absorption refrigerating system and from four to seven gallons per minute per square foot when the cooling tower is used with a race anical refrigerating system.

During full tlow conditions the tube to will tend to rotate at a relatively high speed due to the reactive force of the water issuing from between lips 23 and 24 and more water than can be effectively cooled will be distributed on the top surface of the packing. During low [low conditions the tube 15 will rotate at a moderate speed to properly distribute the water over the surface of the packing.

To effect a more uniform rotation of tube 15 and to prevent water splash, baflle 25 is suitably secured to tube 15 coextensive with each pair of lips 23 and 24. Each baiile includes a first depending portion 26 connected to tube 15, a secondly outwardly extending portion 2'], and a third depending portion 28. The batlle is preferably formed of sheet metal which may be bent along the line connecting the first and second portions to adjust the angle therebetween. The second portion 27 is bent downwardly at an angle with a horizontal plane under full liquid flow conditions to fonm resistance to the air, thus retarding the speed of rotation of the distributor. Under low llow conditions portion 27 is bent upwardly so that it extends generally horizontally from tube E5. The full force of liquid issuing from between lips 23 and 2; is applied to rotate the tube 15 and the balllc is used only to confine liquid to the surface of the packing. lortion 28 materially assists in confining liquid to the surf'z c l' the packing under either full flow or low tlow conditions.

Decreasing the length of the angled lips 23 and 24 will decrease the reactive force of water issuing from the slot between said lips, assuming a con: ant flow rate, and will result in a decreased speed of rotation of the tube. Increasing the length of lips 23 and 2-? while maintaining the flow rate constant will increase the reactive force and increase the speed of rotation of the tube.

If the tube rotates too fast. more water is placed on the top of the packing than can be effectively evaporatively cooled and said water overflows the surface of the packing and is returned to the sump without being cooled. When the tube rotates too slowly or stops altogether an insuificient supply of water is discharged over the surface of the packing and the rate of cooling of the water is inadequate to reduce the temperature oi the water lcuv t ing the cooling tower suflicienlly.

As will be apparent; the bafiles may be suitably adjusted to control the speed of rotation of distributor M, dependent upon the water flow rate through the distributor, the length of the angled portion of slots l9 and 2t) and the frictional resistance between hub 16 and assembly 17.

Water is introduced into riser pipe l8 through conduit 29 from the place where it is used by suitable pump means, not shown.

Fan means 30 are mounted in the upper portion of easing 5 to draw air through the packing in heat exchange rclation with water passing thcrcthrough.

During operation of the cooling tower, fan means 39 will cause air to pass through louvers '1" and be induced through packing 12. Simultaneously water is distributed on the top surface of packing 12 by distributor id. The Water flows through the packing in countcrfiow relationship to the air stream to efi'ect cvaporative cooling oi? the water. This is done at the cost of evaporatin approximately two pcrccnt of the water passed through the packing. The water cooled in packing 12 is collected in sump 8 and is discharged therefrom through conduit 31 to the place where it is used. The liquid level is maintained in the sump by means of float-controlled valve 10.

Bafile 25 performs two function in the operation ot the cooling tower. First. the tendency for the stutter to splash and be caught up in the upwardly moving air stream is resisted by battle 25 for the splash water is trapped and rcdepositcd on the top of packing 12. Thus the necessity for the eliminator plates commonly used in cooling towers of this type to remove splash water suspended in the air stream discharged from the cooling tower is obviated. Second, the rate of rotation of the tube 15 can be varied by adjusting the portion 27 of ballle 25 upwardly or downw'rdly. This assures an equal distribution ot water over the top surface of packing 1?. under varying llow rates.

The slots permit a uniform distribution of water upon each increment of surface area of the packing. Further, he slots can be more easily cleaned of foreign matter and are less subject to clogging than circular openings formed in the rotary distributor.

While I have described a preferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention is not limited thereto since it may be otherwise embodied within the scope of the appended claims.

l claim:

l. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus, the combination of a casing. a packing in said casing, means for passing an air stream through said packing. and means for distributing water over said packing comprising a liquid distributing tube arr nged above the packing and having an elongated continuous slot in the bottom thereof and extending substantially the length of the tube. means for rotatably mounting said tube above said packing, first lip means for directing a part or the water discharged from the slot downwardly in a shect-like formation, and second lip means placed outwardly from the first lip means on said tube. for directing the remainder of the liquid discharged from the slot at an angle to the plane of said first sheet-like formation whereby discharge of liquid through said second lip means rotates said tube. and flexible battle means substantially coextensive with said second iip means and afiisctl to the trailing edge of said tube for minimizing the splashing of water from said packing and for adjusting the speed of rotation of said tube.

2. In a gas and liquid contact apparatus, the combination of a packing. means for passing air through said packing and means for distributing water over said packing comprising a tubular member rectangular in crosssection mounted adjacent the top section of said packing, means for rotatably mounting said tube above said packing, said tubular member having a hub connected on the bottom thereof and having a pair of slots formed in the bottom thereof. one on each side of said hub, 21 Water supply pipe, a bearing and seal assembly connecting said hub and supply pipe. each of said slots having a first portion including lip means to direct water downwardly and a second portion including inclined lip means placed outwardly from the first lip means on said tube to direct water at an angle with respect to a vertical plane passing through said member whereby discharge of liquid through said inclined lip means rotates said tube, the reactive force of water discharging from said inclined lip means of the second portion of each of said slots causing the tubular member to rotate and flexible bafiie means adjustably connected to said tubular member to redirect splash water onto the surface of said packing and to control the speed of rotation of the member.

3. A gas and liquid contact apparatus according to claim 2 in which the flexible baffie means includes a first up right portion connected to said tubular member substantially coextensive with the second portion of the slot opening at an angle and a second portion extending from the first portion and adjustable with regard thereto to eontroi the speed of rotation of the tubular member.

4. A gas and liquid contact apparatus according to claim 3 in which the bathe means includes a third portion extending downwardly from the end of the second portion to restrict me splashing of water.

References Cited in the file of this patent 2,809,818 UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,926,856 678,979 Ridgway July 23, 1901 2,029,268 Lund Jan. 28, 1936 5418 2,225,836 Lund Dec. 24, 1940 5 112653 2,595,702 Prevost May 6, 1952 105885 2,692,163 Geel Got. 19, 1954 6 Munters Oct. 15, 1957 Lawlor et a1 Mar. 1, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain 19 Great Britain Jan. 16, 1918 Sweden Nov. 10, 1942 

1. IN A GAS AND LIQUID CONTACT APPARATUS, THE COMBINATION OF A CASING, A PACKING IN SAID CASING, MEANS FOR PASSING AN AIR STREAM THROUGH SAID PACKING, AND MEANS FOR 